The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently (May 29) reported on the NAACP Board's selection of a new president.
According to the Chronicle, the newly selected president will be the "youngest president in the organization's nearly 100-year history".
While the article does speak to the strengths of Benjamin Todd Jealous (the new president) it at the same time highlights a great degree of disgruntlement on the part of the board over this selection noting that the "new president will assume the job with something less than a mandate, as the trustee vote was 34 to 21 in favor of his appointment".
It's certainly true that within an organization, some decisions may not get 100% support. But the spirit and responsibility of board members, once a decision has been made, is to support the decisions and try to find ways to make it work OR leave the organization. This is how great organizations achieve greatness.
That some NAACP board members have chosen to air the organization's laundry and express their dissatisfaction over the selection choice is not in my mind a show of commitment to greatness. I would hope the Board Chair will speak to this failure while working to heal "wounds" and create a space where the newly selected president will be able to pursue the mission without distraction and with full support.
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